Time and Shipwrecks

Shipwrecks have a dangerous relationship with time. They preserve relics and encapsulate an era within their hulls; that's why we love to explore them. When you swim through a hallway or a ballroom, you aren't just diving; you're wandering through another time. The downside is that time will eventually consume every shipwreck, prompting questions about the safety and the appropriateness of diving them since the presence of people speeds the wreck's breakdown.

One of the most famous examples is the Andrea Doria, often referred to as the Mt. Everest of scuba diving. In 1956, the ocean liner collided with a Swedish American liner whose prow was equipped with an ice breaker. She sank with a minimal loss of life thanks to a slow sinking and an immediate response for assistance. When she settled, the ship initially sat with the upper decks in 160ft of water, making it an accessible site for treasure hunters looking for the liner's signature china and other valuable and collectible items. However, in more recent years the boat has begun to break down due to the strong Atlantic current it sits in. Many divers call it a "noisy wreck" because its' breakdown continually creates scraping and creaking sounds. It's a dangerous wreck, because when sections collapse divers lose some access points and gain others. The ship has claimed lives in its sinking and in its exploration afterwards, with at least sixteen divers losing their lives.

This is just one example of a growing concern. The presence of people on wrecks speeds their breakdown; movement and accidents weaken an already crumbling structure, and treasure hunting robs them of their history. Additionally, any enclosed space presents a dive that requires special training; add to that an unpredictable pattern of decaying hallways resting sideways filled with detritus that turns the water black, and you have a set of circumstances that can be deadly to even the most experienced divers.

In this circumstance, conservation should always be the diver's highest priority. When you dive wrecks, dive with proper training, good supplies, and a plan. The adage "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles" is especially important in wreck diving, where every piece left behind is a piece left for someone else to appreciate. Consider too that your number one conservation concern is your own life and well-being. If you're not ready, don't dive it!

Are you ready to see some wrecks? Call us today to schedule your Lake Michigan dive charter and experience history as only scuba divers can!